Kingston, Jamaica, January 27, 2022 (PAHO) – UKaid and PAHO partnered to retrofit nine health centers island wide, making them safer, greener, and more resilient to natural disasters and climate change. The smart facilities upgraded under the ‘Smart’ or Strengthening Health Care Facilities in the Caribbean Project were handed over to Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, Minister of Health and Wellness on Thursday, January 27 at the newly upgraded St. Ann's Bay Health Centre.
The upgraded facilities, which were completed in 2021, are the St Ann's Bay, Albert Town, Darliston, Gayle, Norman Gardens, Windward Road, Yallahs, Sydenham and Cumberland Road health centres. The other health facilities to be retrofitted under this project include the Port Antonio Health Centre (expected to finish in February 2022), Santa Cruz Health Centre (expected to finish in Q3 2022) and Mandeville Health Centre, which is expected to start in February and finish in Q4 2022.
Mr. Ian Stein, PAHO/WHO Representative in Jamaica stated, “This is a very important day for PAHO/WHO and the United Kingdom as we hand-over nine health care facilities across the country, including this ‘Smart facility’, the St. Ann’s Bay Health Centre. Since 2016, PAHO/WHO has been implementing this UKaid project in Jamaica in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Wellness, which reinforces that sustainability of health facilities must be enhanced to ensure continued service delivery immediately after the impact of hazards, such as hurricanes, when communities need healthcare most.
He continued, “the technical cooperation provided by PAHO/WHO is integrally linked to the disaster risk reduction priorities of the Americas and Jamaica’s Climate Change Policy Framework which will enshrine ’Smart’ standards in the new construction and retrofitting of health facilities. In summary, SAFE + GREEN + MAINTAINED = SMART”.
“Our UK grant is instrumental in supporting Jamaica's efforts to reduce disaster vulnerability of vital public buildings and boost its climate resilience. It has also provided a helpful platform for risk reduction planning within the health sector. COVID -19 has further highlighted the importance of disaster preparedness and contingency measures at health facilities for staff and patients,” said British High Commissioner to Jamaica, Judith Slater.
For his part, Health and Wellness Minister, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, stated the programme is much welcomed as the public health system continues to adjust and respond to the changing health profile and needs of the population.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has brought to bear in a most significant way, the need for the vulnerable among us to protect themselves from diseases and ailments and for persons to take the necessary preventive steps to guard against becoming vulnerable.”
The £46.3m project is currently being implemented in seven countries: Dominica, St Lucia, Grenada, Saint Vincent and The Grenadines, Belize, Guyana and Jamaica. Jamaica received an allocation of £8million or USD11 million. The project is funded by UKaid through its Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office in the Caribbean and implemented by PAHO in close collaboration with the Ministries of Health of the selected countries.
